Drawer type depository



July 8, 1958 c. T. MAssENGlLL 2,842,308

DRAWER TYPE nEPosIwoRY I Filed Deo. 22, 1955 y 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 culos-$1 ATTORNEY July 8, 1958 v c. T. MASSENGILI.` 2,842,308

DRAWER TYPE DEPOSITORY Filed Dec. 22, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 cgi?. 5 ql?.

a Z7 /30 Cleburne Masseng/l I on: INVENTOR ATTORNEY July 8, 1958 c. T. MAssl-:NGILL 2,842,308

DRAWER TYPE DEPOSITORY Filed Dec. 22. 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Boex/g* CLT- 64 89 m /50 /304 7g 60 l n K, 76g ,78 o /g c? f4 v 99 I 85 f r a? l um/m 7? Cleburne 7. Masse/79W 1 N VEN TOR ATTORNEY United States *Patent DRAWER TYPE DEPOSITORY Cleburne T. Massengll, Dallas, Tex. Application December 22, `1955, Serial N o. 554,683

Claims. (Cl. 232-44) This invention relates to wall-mounted depositories; more particularly, the drawer type depositories for wall mounting.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an automatically Voperated drawer type depository, one which opens and closes, unlocks and locks automatically.

At the present time depositories in various services must be unlocked and then the door swung open before a deposit can be made. This is inconvenient and often quite awkward, especially when one has one or more articles or packages to care for.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wall mounted automatic depository which empties itself immediately upon closing, so that nothing whatever would be gained by breaking it open.

A further object of the invention is to incorporate a safety device with an automatically operated drawer type depository which will insure the user or depositor against all injury in the regular or normal operation or use of the depository.

Broadly, the invention comprises a casing open at one end, and provided with a removable closure at the other end, the bottom of the casing having an opening connected to a chute. The casing isv mounted on one side of a wall, generally on the inside, with its open end extending through the wall substantially flush with the other side or outside of the wall. A drawer, open at the top and having a hinged portion in the bottom, is supported in the casing on rollers and guides, insuring free and quiet movement. A hydraulic system with electrical controls operates the drawer, opening and closing it in response to a key or knob switch, as may be preferred, turned bythe depositor.

An envelope chute and a holder for envelopes are pro-I vided at the rear of the drawer for the convenience of the depositor.

A safety device in the form of a barisI mounted on the inside of the drawer front which operates a switch,

' reversing the movement of the drawer when it is closing,

if the bar is moved slightly or held out of its normal position. i

One form of depository constructedlin accordance-with the invention is illustrated` on thel drawings included in this application. The following more detailed description will make other objects and advantages apparentv to those skilled in the art when considered ink connection with the accompanying drawings and claims, wherein: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the casing and drawer taken ina vertical plane alongy the line 1-1 of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is `a longitudinal section through the casing and drawer taken in a horizontal plane along theV line 2--21 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a partial` transverse sectionl taken in cal plane along the line 3&3 of Figure 2.v y

Figure 4 is a partial transverse sectiontaken in a vertical plane along the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

- a vertif 2 Figure 5 is` a partial longitudinal section'along the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is an enlargement of a portion of Figure 1 showing inlarger scale the safety device mounted on the inside of the front of the drawer.

Figure 7 is a Awire diagram of theelectrical circuits which control the hydraulic system, and

Figure 8 is a schematic drawing of the hydraulic system which opens and closes the drawer.

Continuing with a more Vdetailed description of the invention, reference numeral 11,l Figure 1, is the casing which has the removable closure 12 at one end and is open at the opposite end 13. The bottom 14 of the casing has the opening 15 to which the chute 16 is attached.

The open end of the casing has the flange 17 formed onits edges which supports the sealing strip 18. An outside wall-plate 19 is bolted through the wall 20 to the inside wall-plateA 21. Theranged liner 22 is iitted into the wall opening 23 and welded or otherwise attached to the inside wall-plate. TheV casing has the ilange 24 mounted on its top, two sides and bottom which is attached by bolts 25 to the inside wall-plate for positioning and supporting the casing within the liner.

The drawer 26, Figure 1, has a front 27 extending.

sufficiently beyond its top, sides and bottom to bear againstv the sealing strip when it is closed. In the bottom of the drawer there is a hinged door 28 which swings downward into the chute attached to the bottom of the casing when the drawer closes. The partition 29 inside the drawer, which extends upwardly from the bottom between the two sides, is mounted at an angle to facilitate the passage of articles from the drawer as the bottom door opens into the chute. At the rear of the drawer there isrthe envelope chute 30 which communicates with the casing-chute when lthe drawer is open. Above the envelope-chute a box 31 is provided to hold envelopes, deposit slips and the like, for the convenience of the depositor.

rl`wo angle-tracks 32 and 33, Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, one mounted on eachl side of the drawer, rest on rollers 34 and 35, mounted on the bottom of the casing near the front, one adjacent to each side wall, for support of the drawer at the front. .y The roller 34,k Figure 3, is carried on the axle 36supported on one end by the angle-clip 37 and on the other end by the channelclip 38. The roller 35, Figure 1, is similarly mounted betweenan angle-clip, notshown, and the channel-clip39. i

Rollers and 41, Figurel, 3 and 4, are'rnounted on the drawer, oneV on each side near the rear, vwhich engage the channel-tracks .42, and 43, Figures 1, 2,3, 4 and 5 arranged, one on each side, along the side-walls of the casing, for support of the drawer at its rear. The channel-tracks aresupported along the side-walls of the casing by the channelLclips 38 and-39', at the front,` and channelclips'44and 45 at the, rear.

' Twohydrauliccylinders 46 and 47,-Figures 1,2, 3 and 5, for operating the drawer, are arranged between the easing walls and the sides. of the drawer. The plungers 481 and 49 of the hydraulic cylinders have Atheir bearing* ends. 5,0 andlrotatably connected' by the'pins 52' and 53 to bent-plates 54 and 55, respectively; which are mountedvatn each side of the` back of the drawer front. The hydraulic cylinders are supportedl atatheirv head-ends 56 and-57 by theexible-joints generally referred toby 5S and 59, mounted on the casing side-walls; nThe yoke 60 ofA the exible joint-58 is connected to theY cylinder head end 56 by a pair of capfscrews62whilevthexed part 64; of.. this ,ilexible joint is connected by apair of ,bolts 66y tothe. angle-clip 68,A which is mountedfon one sidef wall of the casing bythe. cap-screws',70.f Tliedlexible joint 59 is siinilarlycnnectedto the head end 57 ofthe other cylinder, and to the angle-clip 69 which is mounted 2111 the other sidewall of the casing by the cap-screws The electrical controls. and the hydraulic systemwill now he described. Referring to Figure 7, power is supplied to the transformer primary coil 73 to produce low voltage in the secondary coil 74.

Electric circuit No. l is the starting relay circuit. The transformer output terminal 75 connects to the terminal 76 of the key or knob-switch 77, Figures l and 7; and the terminal 78, Figure 7, connects to the terminal 79 of the starting relay 80. The terminal 81 of the relay connects to the common secondary return line 82, which leads to the other terminal 83 of the transformer output coil, completing the circuit.

Circuit No. 2.-This is the relay-armature circuit which furnishes the initial energy to activate the pump-motor relay and the lock relay. The armature contact 84 of the armature 85, which is mounted on the starting relay, connects to the terminal 76 of the key switch. This armature is connected to the terminal 86 of the pump-motor relay 87; and the other terminal 88 of this relay is connected to the switch 89. The contact 90 of this switch is connected to the common secondary return line 82, completing the'circuit.

Circuit No. 3.-The armature switch 85 also connects to the terminal 91 of the lock relay 92; and the terminal 93 of this relay connects to the contact 94 of the switch 95, actuated by the time-unit 96. The switch 95 connects to the common secondary return line 82, completing the circuit.

Circuit No. 4.-'I'his is a holding circuit. It keeps the pump-motor relay and the lock relay energized when the key-switch is turned to ot position, so that the pump operates to close the drawer and the lock remains open until the drawer is closed. The armature contact 97 of the pump-motor relay is connected to the terminal 76 of the key-switch and the armature 98 connects to the terminal 86 of the pump-motor relay and to the terminal 91 of the lock relay.

Circuit No. supplies energy to the pump-motor. The contact 99 of the armature switch 100, also-mounted on the pump-motor relay, connects to the power source, and this armature switch connects to the terminal 101 of the pump-motor 102, Figure 7, which is hidden in Figure l by the pump 134.

The other motor terminal 103 connects to the common power return line 72a, completing the circuit to the power. source.

Circuit No. 6 supplies energy to the lock solenoid-Valve. The contact 104 of the armature switch 105, which is mounted on the lock relay, connects to the power source at the armature-switch 100, and the armature switch 105 connects to the terminal 106 of the solenoid 107a of the lock solenoid-valve 107, Figure 1. The solenoid terminal 108 connects to the common power return line 72a, to complete the circuit.

Circuit No. 7.-This circuit energizes the directionrelay which controls the direction solenoid-valve. A line from the key-switch terminal 78 connects to the switch 109 which has its contact 110 connected to the terminal 111 of the direction relay 112. The other terminal 113 of the direction-relay connects to contact 114 of the switch 115 which s operated by the time-unit 116. This switch connects to the common secondary return line 82, completing the circuit.

Circuit No. 8.-This supplies energy to the direction solenoid-valve. The contact 117 `of the armature-switch 118, which is mounted on the direction-relay, connects to the power source at the armature-switch 100; and the armature-switch 118 connects to the terminal 119 of the solenoid 120e, Figure 7, which is a part of the solenoid-valve 120, Figure 1, hidden by the solenoidvalve 107,. Figure 1. The terminal 121 of this solenoid connects'to the common power'return line 72a.

Circuit No. 9.-This circuit energizes the time-unit 96 of circuit No. 3 through the limit-switch 122 operated by the pin 122a projecting from one side of the drawer. The line a connects to the limit-switch, and its contact 123 connects to one terminal 124 of the time-unit. The other terminal 125 of the time-unit connects to the common secondary return line 82, to complete the circuit.

Circut No. 10.--This circuit energizes the time-unit 116 of circuit No. 7, through the direction limit switch 126 operated by the pin 126a which is mounted on one side of the drawer. The line 75a connects to the direction limit-switch 126 and its contact 127 connects to one terminal 128 of the time-unit. The other terminal 129 of the time-unit connects to the common secondary return line 82, completing the circuit.

Circuit No. 11,-This circuit consists of the switch 130 connected to the holding circuit No. 4 as a source of en ergy, and the contact 131 connected to the key-switch terminal 78, forming a loop or jumper over the keyswitch for energizing the direction relay. The switch 130, Figures l, 6, 7, is mounted on the inside of the drawerfront under the partition 29. The switch 130 comprises a lever which is pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the drawer front 27, and having a movable contact on its lower end for engagement with the contact 131, which is fixed. A bar 130u, which is connected to the upper end of the lever and extends across the drawer near the top and just behind the drawer front, operates the switch, which is normally held open by the spring 130b. Whenever the bar is moved slightly toward the drawer-front, it closes the switch. Should this occur while the drawer is moving in its closing direction, it will activate the direction relay and thus the direction solenoidvalve, causing the drawer to open. This completes the description of the electrical control wire diagram. The transformer and relays are not indicated in Figure l. Their location is not critical, but for convenience they are generally placed near or on the casing. The hydraulic system will now be described.

The reservoir 132 supplies fluid through the pipe 133 to the pump 134. The pump discharges iluid under pressure through the pipe 135 to the port 136 of the uidvalve, 120b, part of the solenoid valve 120. In the down position of this valve, uid tlows from the port 137 through line 138 and branch lines 139, 140, to the plunger ends 141, 142, of the hydraulic cylinders 46 and 47, respectively. 'Ihe head-ends 143 and 144 of these cylinders are connected by the pipes and 146 to the pipe 147, which connects to the port 148 of the iluid valve. The port 149 of the Huid-valve connects by the pipe 150 to the pump supply line 133. The pipe 151 connects the pump discharge pipe to the pressure-relief valve 152 and the pipe 153 connects the pressure-relief valve to the reservoir. In this up position of the solenoid-valve the port 136 connects to the port 148, while the port 137 connects to the port 149, reversing the flow of uid from the pump to the head-ends of the hydraulic cylinders.

A pipe 154 connects the pump discharge to the port 15S of the uid valve 107b of the solenoid-valve 107. In the down position of this valve uid ows out of the port 156 by the pipe 157 to the head-end 158 of the hydraulic cylinder 159. The plunger end 160 of this hydraulic cylinder connects by the pipe 161 to the port 162 of the fluid valve, the uid owing out port 163 which connects by the pipe 164 to the pump supply line 133.

In the up position of this fluid valve, the port con-- nects to the port 162, and the port 156 connects to the port 163, reversing the ow of iiuid to the plunger-end of the hydraulic cylinder 159. This completes the description of the hydraulic system. The locking mechanism, generally referred to by the numeral 165, will now be described.

The principal lever 166, its side extension 166a and the cam 167, iunction as one piece, the lever 166 being positioned between the casing 11 and one side of the drawer 26 and being pivotally connected to the casing 11, as at 168. One end of the princapl lever engages the plunger 169 of the hydraulic cylinder and the switch 89, both previously described. The other end of this lever engages the switch 109, also previously described. A swing lever 170 pivots on the pin 171 supported by the extension 166a of the principal lever. The spring 172 extends between the piece 173 of the principal lever and the swinglever, to hold the swing-lever against the cam. The lockbar 174 pivots at 175 on the swing-lever, with one end extending under the cam while the other end rests in the latch 176. The latch 176 is pivotally connected to the drawer 26, as at 177 and is held against the rest 178 by the spring 179. The rest 178 is attached to the drawer 26, and like the latch 176 and the spring 179, is movable therewith upon opening and closing the drawer 26. The spring 179 is U-shaped, and one of its ends is attached to the rest 178 while its other end yieldably engages one end of the latch 176. The latch 176 is angular, and one of its ends is held against the rest 178 by the action of the spring 179 on its opposite end, whereby the latch 176 is rotated about its pivot 17. This completes the description of the locking mechanism. Its operation will now be described.

The mechanism unlocks when the principal lever 166 is moved upwardly. This turns the cam counterclockwise, which enables spring 172 to move the lever 170and the lock-bar 174 with it, toward the pivot 168. At thesame time the lock-bar is moved away from the latch 176. Further upward movement of the principal lever brings the lower part of the cam against the lever 170, turning this lever with it to lift the lock-bar suciently to pass over the latch 176 as the drawer opens. The mechanism locks when the principal lever is moved downward from its up position, reversing the procedure just described. This completes the description of the locking mechanism. Operation of the invention will now be described.

Turning the key-switch 77 activates the starting relay 80 which closes its armature 85. 'I'his activates the pumpmotor relay 87 which closes its armature 100 supplying power to the pump-motor, and closes its armature 98 which activatesy the holding circuit. Closing of the armature 85 also activates the lock relay 92 which closes its armature 105, supplying power to the lock solenoid valve 107.

Fluid discharging from the pump iiows through the direction solenoid valve 120 (down position) into the hydraulic cylinders 46 and 47 holding the drawer tightly closed, while the power supplied to solenoid valve 107 directs fluid to the hydraulic cylinder 159 to lift its plunger 169 and unlock the drawer. In its upward movement, the plunger 169 closes the switch 109 which activates the direction relay 112. This closes its armature 11S and feeds power to the direction solenoid valve 120 moving it to its up position, which reverses the fluid flow through it to the head ends of the hydraulic cylinders 46-47, opening the drawer.

As the drawer opens the pin 126er, which is mounted on the drawer, closes the limit-switch 126. This activates the tirne-unit 116, opening the switch 115 (after an interval of time, determined by adjustment of the time-unit) which breaks the return line of the direction relay 112, cutting off power supply to the solnoid valve 120. The solenoid valve then returns to its down position, which directs the Huid from the pump to the plunger ends of the hydraulic cylinders 46-47, closing the drawer. If the safety-bar is moved by any means it closes the switch 130 which activates relay 112 and solenoid-valve 120 again, reversing the fluid flow to the cylinders 46-47 opening the drawer. The drawer will close again whenever the safety-bar is released, or, in the instance where the drawer opens its full distance, by the time-unit switch 115 explained above.

When the drawer closes the pin 122a closes the switch failure, or vfrom any other cause.

122 which activates the time-unit 96, operating the switch 95, which `breaks the return line from the lock-relay 92, opening the power supply line to solenoid-valve 107. The time-unit is set to open its switch after the drawer is tightly closed. Then, when the plunger 169 returns to its down position, byl operation of the solenoid-valve 107, the plunger 169 locks the drawer, trips the switch 89, which stops the pump, and shifts the switch 109 which opens the direction relay supply line. This completes the operation cycle. The spring biased latch 176 permits manual closing and locking of the drawer should the lock-bar 174 be in locked position due to power Upon closing the drawer 26, the latch 176 is moved to the right, Vas shown in Figure 8, whereby it is movable about its pivot 177, against the resistance of the spring 179, upon engagement with the lock-bar 174. The latch 176 is passed under the adjacent end of the lock-bar 174 and is `thereafter locked in abutting relation thereto. The holding current t-o the relay S7 and relay 92 keeps the pump operating and the lockopen when the key is turned 'back to close the drawer.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification, and such modification as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A depository comprising a casing having an opening at one end and la discharge opening in its bottom; a drawer slidably'mounted in said casing, said drawer having an opening in its bottom; a cross-partition mounted in said drawer having its top edge near the drawer front and it slower edge adjacent the front edge of said drawer bottom opening; said drawer bottom -opening communieating with the said casing bottomy opening when the drawer is closed, a recessed flange mounted around the casing end opening on the edges of the casing; a sealing strip supported in the recess of said ilange; said drawer front having edges extending beyond the drawer on all sides engaging said sealing strip when the drawer is closed; a face plate mounted on said recessed flange and surrounding said drawer front; an electrical circuit; means for energizing said circuit; means actuated by said circuit for -opening and closing the drawer, and means actuated by saidcircuit for locking and unlocking the drawer.

2. The structure ydescribed in claim l wherein the said opening in the drawer bottom is provided with a hinged door arranged to close as the drawer opens and to swing downward through the casing bottom opening as the drawer closes.

3. The structure described-in claim l wherein the said drawer bottom has a second opening between the opening mentioned in claim l and the back of the drawer; an envelope receptacle within and communicating with the interior of said drawer; an envelope chute within the drawer communicating with said second opening in said drawer bottom. j

4. A depository adapted to be sealed in a wall of a building comprising a casing having an opening in one end and in its bottom; a wall mounted face-plate having an opening corresponding to the end opening of the casing; a drawer, arranged for the reception of articles for deposit, movably supported in the casing; said drawer having two openings inV its bottom, each brought into register with said casing bottom opening, according to the position of the drawer, for discharge therethrough of said articles; an electrical circuit; means for energizing said circuit; means actuated by said circuit for moving the drawer to open and closed positions; means in said,

circuit for controlling said movement of the drawer; time control means in said circuit for predetermining the period the drawer remains open; and independent switch means in said circuit for reversing the travel of the drawer while closing, and means for locking and unlocking the drawer.

5. A depository adapted to be sealed in a wall of a building, comprising a casing having one open end substantially flush with one side of said wall, and an opening in its bottom communicating with the other side of said wall; a face-plate mounted on said one side of said wall having an opening corresponding to the open end of the casing; a drawer movably supported in said casing; said drawer having openings in its bottom, one of which is brought in register with the casing bottom opening when the drawer is closed; another of said drawer openings being brought into register with said casing bottom opening when said drawer is open; a bar and lever mounted on the inner face of said drawer front; an electrical circuit; means for energizing said circuit; means actuated by said circuit for opening and closing said drawer; a switch operated by said bar and lever for independently activating said circuit to reverse the travel of said drawer anytime while closing.

6. A depository adapted to be sealed in a Wall of a building, comprising a casing having one open end substantially flush with one side of said wall, and an opening in its bottom communicating with the 'other side of said wall; a face-plate mounted on said one side of said wall having an opening corresponding to the open end of said casing; a drawer movably supported in said casing having an opening in its bottom; a cross-partition mounted in said drawer having its top edge near the inside face of the drawer front and its lower edge against the front edge of said drawer bottom opening; said drawer bottom opening communicating with said casing bottom opening when the drawer is closed; an electrical circuit; means for energizing said circuit; a motor in said circuit; a fluid reservoir; a pump driven by said motor, connected to said reservoir; hydraulic cylinders each having a plunger and adapted to actuate said drawer, said cylinders being disposed on said drawer; means pivotally connecting said plungers to said drawer; means ilexibly connecting said cylinders to said casing interiorly thereof; a switch controlled solenoid valve actuated by said circuit; said solenoid valve directing the flow of duid from said pump to said cylinders and from said cylinders to said reservoir to open and close the drawer.

7. The structure described in claim 6, wherein a locking device and an auxiliary hydraulic cylinder withV suitable plunger are mounted in the casing, said cylinder and plunger being arranged to operate said locking device, and a latch is eftixed to the drawer; and wherein a switch controlled auxiliary solenoid valve is actuated by said electrical circuit for directing the flow of uid to and from said auxiliary hydraulic cylinder to engage and disengage said locking device with said latch.

8. The structure described in claim 7, wherein the latch is spring-biased whereby it yieldably engages the lockingdevice, upon closing the drawer, to thereby permit the drawer to be closed and locked manually upon failure of the automatic means for closing and locking it.

9. A depository adapted to be sealed in a wall of a building comprising a casing, formed by a bottom, two sides, a top, a back, open at its front end; said casing having said front end substantially flush with one side of said wall; and an opening in its bottom communicating with the other side of said wall; a face plate having an opening corcsponding to said front end of casing; a drawer arranged for the reception of articles for deposit, having two openings in said bottom, each brought into register with said casing bottom opening according to the position of the drawer,ffor the discharge therethrough of said articles; said drawer being movably supported on two rails of angle shape, one attached to each side of the drawer; each of said angle rails bearing upon a roller mounted on the casing bottom near its front; and two rails of channel shape, one supported along each wall of the casing engaging a roller attached to each side of the drawer near its back end; and means for locking and unlocking said drawer.

10. A depository comprising a casing, having one open end, adapted to be sealed in a wall of a building with said open end substantially Ilush with one side of said wall; said casing having an opening in its bottom communieating with the other side of said wall; a drawer movably supported in said casing arranged to receive articles for deposit; said drawer having two openings in its bottom, each brought into register with said casing bottom opening, according to the position of said drawer, for discharge therethrough of said articles; an electrical circuit; means for energizing said circuit; means actuated by said circuit for moving the drawer to open and closed positions; means in said circuit for controlling said drawer moving means; a locking device actuating by said circuit; Said controlling means holding said drawer tightly closed while said locking device locks and unlocks said drawer.

No references cited. 

